Before entering the education program my main experience of training (after university) was the red seal apprenticeship program to become an electrician. It was difficult to be certain: my instructors were not particularly friendly or patient, construction work being how it is. It was effective and rewarding, though, and it has influenced my view of education as a profession.

First Peoples Principles of Learning – First Nations Education Steering Committee FNESC

The first thing I thought of when talking about FNESC’s model of learning was my experience in the Red Seal program as an electrician. I will go through point by point; not all of them are applicable but I think a lot of them are.

1. Learning ultimately supports the well-being of the self, the family, the community, the land, the spirits, and the ancestors
One of my favorite parts of electrical was the feeling of shaping my environment, producing something from which people of the community would derive tangible value. I developed new skills, I went into areas I had never gotten to go into before, and understand the infrastructure that we rely on. It allowed me to support my family, I got to know other families, the crews I worked on were communities in themselves.

2. Learning is holistic, reflexive, reflective, experiential, and relational (focused on connectedness, on reciprocal relationships, and a sense of place)
My electrical learning was all of these things. It was largely hands on (except my annual schooling,) it was grounded in relationship with the journeymen I worked with, it was practical and real (holistic.)

3. Learning involves recognizing the consequences of one‘s actions
No missing this one, electricity will always remind you of the consequences of your actions.

4. Learning involves generational roles and responsibilities
The journeyman and apprentice system is founded on this. I do know some who would really not make an effort to help apprentices, but for the most part it was viewed as a responsibility and a mark of experience and skill. I have instructed many apprentices over the years, it has been an honor to be part of the process.

5. Learning recognizes the role of Indigenous knowledge
OK, not so much this one. I worked with a grand total of one Indigenous person out of about four hundred co-workers. (A total of fifteen co-workers weren’t straight white males.)

6. Learning is embedded in memory, history, and story
A lot of electrical learning is imbedded in the code book, and every code rule has a story behind it. Safety is taught by highlighting the times it didn’t happen and what it cost. Even beyond safety, a lot of learning on the job is in the form of stories from past jobs.

7. Learning involves patience and time
We do tend to be more focused on speed and productivity, but there are some areas where patience is key. We don’t rush young people to do things that are beyond them, that would be the main one.

8. Learning requires exploration of one‘s identity
Maybe, this one doesn’t feature too much in electrical though. Maybe in small talk during lunch break?

9. Learning involves recognizing that some knowledge is sacred and only shared with permission and/or in certain situations
“Knowing just enough to be dangerous” is how we would phrase this one. You don’t want people diving in on electrical work, not until they have an understanding of what can go wrong. People have a way of convincing themselves that everything will be fine. It will not be fine.

Definitely not a perfect fit, but I feel that it works well in ways that traditional schooling has struggled.


I have heard it suggested by more than one vice principal that teaching should operate like a red seal trade. I can see some upsides. I imagine new teachers would burn out less often, as they could ease into learning the profession. Teachers would have TTOC’s built into the system, and they’d already be familiar with the classroom and students. The learning would be ongoing and immediately applicable to teaching, and the teachers with apprentices would also have easier access to professional learning.


Trades Discovery (cnc.bc.ca)
For students, the trades program has already found the high schools of Prince George. The College of New Caledonia has a program for grade 11/12 students to learn a trade, which I think is great. One of my apprentices before I quit electrical was a graduate of the program.